Government Close To Finalising AI Labelling Rules To Flag AI-Generated Content: IT Secretary

New Delhi, Jan 21 (KNN) The government is nearing the finalisation of regulations that will require clear labelling of AI-generated content, IT Secretary S. Krishnan said on Tuesday, aiming to help users better evaluate such material and avoid mistaking synthetic outputs for factual information.
 
Speaking at an event titled ‘Building Safe Spaces for AI Impact: Regulatory and Private Sandboxes’, organised by industry body Nasscom, Krishnan said the draft rules are currently undergoing legal vetting and are in their final stages.
 
Obligations on AI Tool Providers and Social Media Platforms
 
The proposed AI labelling framework will place obligations on two key categories of stakeholders, providers of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini, and social media platforms, reported PTI. 
 
According to Krishnan, these entities are largely large technology firms that possess the technical expertise and resources required to implement labelling mechanisms.
 
“Labelling something as AI-generated content offers people the opportunity to examine it… you know that it is AI-generated and that it is not masquerading as the truth,” Krishnan said.
 
Proposed Changes to IT Rules
 
In October, the government proposed amendments to the IT Rules to require clear labelling of AI-generated content and strengthen the responsibility of platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to identify and flag synthetic media, with the aim of reducing harm from deepfakes and misinformation.
 
The IT ministry has raised concerns over the spread of deepfake audio, video and other synthetic content on social media, warning that generative AI can produce convincing falsehoods that may be misused for misinformation, reputational harm, election interference and financial fraud.
 
Labelling, Traceability and Metadata Requirements
 
Under the proposed amendments, platforms would have to clearly label AI-generated or altered content using prominent visual or audio markers, covering at least 10 percent of the display or opening audio, along with embedded metadata to identify synthetic material.
 
The ministry had previously sought stakeholder feedback on the proposals, which aim to put in place a clear legal framework for the labelling, traceability and accountability of AI-generated content.
 
No Immediate Plan for a Separate AI Law
 
Responding to questions on the need for a standalone AI Act, Krishnan said that while the government is not ruling out such legislation in the future, there is no immediate plan to introduce one.
 
“We are not having it tomorrow, or in the next session of Parliament, but in future we may need an Act,” he said, adding that existing laws are currently considered adequate to address regulatory requirements related to AI.
 
(KNN Bureau)